Electrical safe-lock



(No Model.)

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ELECTRICAL SAFEl LOOK.

Patented Oct. 25, 1887.

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G. J. KINTNER. I ELECTRICAL SAFE LOCK. v

` No. 372,026. Patented Oct. 25, 1887.

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, o. J. KINTNBR.y ELECTRICAL SAFE LOK.

10.372,026. Patented 001;. 25, 1887.

s N L UNITED STATES PATENT .EErcEe CHARLES J. KIN'INERLOF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRICAL SAFE-LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 372,026, dated October 25, 1887.

Application tiled May 1l, 1887. Serial No. 237.803. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern: .Be it known that I, CHARLES J. KINTNER, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Safe and other'Door Locks, of which the followingspecification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, constitutes a full and exact disclosure.

My invention consists,broadly,in anew form ofcombination-lock wherein the combinations are actuated or produced by electrical means, and relates to the method and apparatus whereby safe'door andA other locks are made secure against the attack of burglars.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevationof asafedoor as seen from the inside, and showing the interior apparatus for controlling the locks. Fig. 2 is an obverse elevation ofFig. 1, showing .the exterior mechanism. Fig. 3 is a d iagrammatic View of a modied form of my iniproved lock.

Similar letters ol reference indicate corresponding parts in the several gures.

l will first describe the parts ol' the apparatus in detail, and then the mode of operation.

A'1 is an ordinary safe-door, to theinside of which is fixed, in the usual well-known man.-

ner,bolts B B B,sliding in bearings() C C, and inovedback and forth into and out oflocking position in the usual manner by a hand-hold,

H4, carrying an arm, E, which acts against the pin F, attached to the bolts inside the safe. Fixed to the bolt-frame I1" E F', byscrews e e, is a lug or projection, G, which serves the function of locking the bolts when in position, as will be explained hereinafter.

D D is a metal case or box, shown in section and having a solid back, to which the magnets M M M2 M3 are fixed by strong upright posts H H H2 H3, preferably `cast solid secured in such insulated condition to the door.

1 2 3 4 5, Snc., to 15, inclusive, Eig. 1, are metal washers adapted to malte electrical con nection between the screw-heads shown and the switch-board, the body ofthe screws being electrically clear of the switch-board when the screws are partially' drawn.

ze z2 are insulating-washers adapted when placed under any of the metal washers to insulate them fromthe switch-board, as shown at 2, 4, 8, and 13.

w'to w15, inclusive, are insulated conductingwires of platinum or other wire adapted to withstand a high degree of heat in case ofre, and carefully insulated with asbestus or other fire-,proof insulating material. These wires run from contacts 1 to 15, inclusive, Fig. 2, un der an insulating-board, X, into the interior of the safe by a groove behind the hinge H5, as shown, to a series of resistance-coils, E to R15, inclusive, each coil being of different resistance from its fellow, so that the entire series vary from one to twenty or fifty ohms, as desired. The function of these coils will be explained'hereinafter. From the resistancecoils the wires w to w15, inclusive, all run to the switch-board S B, save those designated to form the combinationnin this instance S, 13, and 4, in sequence.

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RX RX is a metal rod attached rigidly tothe door, and .upon which are fixed three sliding metal `contact-arms, S S S2. The plus-pole of the battery is attached to the wire w1 and the minus-pole to wire w, and hence to switch Sw by contact-points b when the switch is closed.

M, M', and M2 are the combinationmagnets,

and M3 is the safety-magnet.

It will be seen that the armature-lever N performs two functionsH-viz., it locks the lever N N2 on the left and also the last or locking armature-lever, Ns N4, by the hook t on the IOO reason ofthe shoulder q and socket-bearing at P2, and is held in this position by spring S2. In turn the lever N' N2 locks N:i by resting over the lug L, said armature-lever being under stress against its back-stop, t', by reason of spring s', and this lever is again locked by the lever N under stress of spring s. It will also be seen that the lever N locks the arm N" of lever N3 by the hook t. Under this condition of affairs the safe is locked and the arms S S' SZ are pushed to either side of rod RX, or to any part of said rod the operator may desire, so that they are not left adjacent to their combinationnumbers. To unlock the safein this instance, we must use the combination 8, 13, and 1, successively, close the battery-cir cuit at switch Sw, and place the arm S'on contact No. 8. The circuit will then be closed at the plus-pole of the battery, and will pass by wire wl, Fig. 2, to rod Rx, and thence by arm S', contact-point No. 8, to wire w, under the insulated bar X, behind the hinge H5, and through the door to the resistance RB, thence to washer 8, resting on insulated washer Z',

V and by wire lw8 to the common bindingpost V, to the return-wire w, whence it passes outside the door behind the hinge, to switch Sw, Contact b, wire w, and the minus-pole of the battery. This energizes magnet M, and causes the armaturelever on it to counteract the effects ofspri ngs and to rise againstits back-stop, i", thus lifting the hook tfrom the path of the lever N4 and removing the left-hand end of the lever from the path ot' the second locking-lever, N' N2, at the same time placing the end of lever N opposite the hole h', so that when lever N2 is drawn to the right it will lock said lever N mechanically. Pass, now, to the second number of the combination and place the arm SZ on the contacpoint 13, and the circuit will now be closcdin multiple are through the path already pointed out, one part going by that route and the second part going from rod Rx, by arm S, to point 13, wire w, behind tlie hinge, as before, and inside the Safe to resistance I l, wire w, to magnet M', and thence to common binding-post V, when it joins the other current, and goes thence by the rcturn-wirc w, as before, to the outside of the safe and the negative pole of the battery. This causes magnet M" to draw its armature A' up against the stress ofspring s'and to bring the hole h' over the end ofthe lever N, said levcr being, as already noted, held up by the action of the divisional part of the current upon the magnet M'. Lever N' N2 therefore swings about its pivot P'and carries the lower arm to the left against its back-stop tz and out of the path of the lug L of the last or locking lever, N3. rIhe arm S' may now be moved from the point S and placed on theinsulating-space nexttoit, thus breaking that circuit and th rowing all the current through wire w, last described, inasmuch as the lever N is held out of actuating or locking position by the upper end of lever N2, as explained. Pass, now, to the last number of the combination, No. 4.

Close the last arm, S, upon the contact No. 4, when the battery will be closed in multiple arc with the circuit last delineated from the arm S by pont4 to wire w, thence behind the hinge inside the door, as before, to resistancecoil R4, thence by wire wt to washer 4,wirc w, to magnet M2, and thence to the same common bindingpost V, where it joins the other current and passes outside the safe by wire w to the other pole of the battery. This magnetizes magnet M2 and causes the armature A to draw up the last locking-lever N3, which projects through the box D at O, out of the path ofthe lug G against tbe stress of its retractile spring s2. Now take hold of the handle I-I* and turn it to the left, when the arm E, acting on pin F, causes the bolts to be forced back and the door comes open.

I will now describethe function of the niagnet M3, which I term a safety-magnet. It will be observed that this magnet is connected by a wire, w, to the switchboard S B near its center, and to the common return-wire w at the bindingpost or junction V, and that all the incoming wires w to w, inclusive, except the combination-w i res-in this instance w", w, and w", respectively-are connected to the switch board by metal washers under the screw-heads, as shown. It will therefore be understood that if any of the circuits be closed from l to 15, inclusive, by arms S, S', or SZ, except the before-mentioned combination circuits, the circuit will be closed through the safety-magnet M3 by switch board and wire w to the common returnwire yw. Stich a closure will energize the magnet M and cause it to act upon its armature A3, thus causingit to aid the spring s in holding the lockingarmature in locking position, as shown. The armature A3 lies close to the pole of its magnet M3, and is near the end ofthe long arm N, while the last or unlocking armature A2,which acts to raise the locking -lever N3, is much nearer the fulcrum I?2 and lies out of the immediate magnetic field, so that if all the circuits are closed at once at the points 1 to l5, inclusive, on the outside, and by return-wire w, even though the armatures A A' be drawn up under this action of their respective magnets M, M', dac., it must be apparent that the inliuence of magnet M'z must be less than that of the conjoint action of spring s1 and magnet M3 acting on the long leverage of arm N4. Flirthermore, the magnet M3 would take the major part of the current, because of the lower path offered by the multiple circuitsto the switchboard S B. All ofthe front and back stops, t t' t2, Svc., and the top of shoulder q should be covered with soft rubber, and every precaution used to deaden the sound of the magnets, so that no noise may be allowed to lead to a detection of the particular combinationcircuits by outside tests.

In place of a permanent returnwire, w, I may utilize any one ofthe wires w' to w15 not already in use as combination-wires as a returnwire, and to provide for this I arrange an ad- IIO post and connect it to the pole of the batteryy by a wire, w18. .Y n the inside ofthe safe I select any one of the wires, not a combination- Wire, for the return, andv place an insulated washer under its nut, as at 2, Fig. 1, and connect the common bindingpost V with this wire wz, as shown, thus insulating this wirel from the switch-board, as in the case of 4, 8, and 13, the conibiuationnuinbers. It will be seen that this arrangement'gives an additional combination, the return circuit not being known, and only to be found by placing the arm S4 on the proper contact-in thisvinstance 2. Of course when this return-circuitis used the fixed return-circuit w is disconnected atbinding-post V; or, if desired, the wire w may be neglected entirely and the combination-circuits relied on for advance and return circuits in themselves. To illustrate: Place S4 Von contact 8 and S'Z on contact 13. By tracing these circuits it will be seen that the circuit is closed from the battery through the two magnets M M in series, and that armatures A and A are drawn up and the lever N2 out'of the pat-h ot'lug L on lever N3. Now close S on contact 4 and magnet MZ willbe energized and :draw up armature A2 and locking-lever N3, when the bolts may be drawn. Either system may be used, as desired.

Fig. 3 shows a modified forni ot" lock,which will be readily understood after the above description. This diagrammatic viewillustrates the battery BA and the points of closure,as 3, 9, 10, and 12, on the outside of the safe. `In place otelectro-niagnets I use here solenoids M Ml Ml M3, with suctioncores A A AWA?.

x .fr and y y are normally-closed low-resistance shunts around the solenoids Ml and M2, and having contactspring K and K2 arranged to allow the shunts to be opened when the solenoid-cores A A are drawn into their coils, as will be understoodby theV action of the extended portions l Z of `levers N N, as shown. The lever Nt-is pivoted at P3 and has a shoulder'carryiug a rubber cushion, a, which. lat.

ter bears on the lever N3. This lever also has a hook, p, at its upper end adapted to take into a corresponding hook, p', on lever N, as shown.

The shunt-circuits x qv and y y, of very low resistance, meet at a common point, q, from which a single low-resistance wire ,is wound about the inner side of the coil or solenoid M3 in such direction that a current of electricity passing from wl or to by said shunt :r x, point q, wire w17, and .out to battery will energize said solenoid' M3. In other words, it is so wound as to aid the main coil of the solenoid in 'its action. A similar effect is had from a current passing from point 12'by` Wire fw, shunt y y, and likewise from point 3, wlre fw,-

shunt mx, and wire w10 to battery. The operation of this modified form is in all essential respects very much like that of the form covered by Figs. 1 and 2, above described, the main difference lying in the function of the shunts x w and y y and the hooks on ends of levers N N N2 Na- N4. v

It will be seen that if the circuit is closed at 10 and 43 the current takes a short route through shunt c x, the low-resistance coil of solenoid M3 to binding-post V, and thence by wirew to battery. This actuatessolenoid M3, whereby the core A3 draws up lever N4 against the pressure of rubber spring a and hooks its upper end into engagement with the hook p on the end of lever N, thereby locking said lever positively against any action of solenoid M and its core A. Similarly the closure of any circuit between any two points on the con-Y tact-board, except 9 and 3 or 10 and 12, will look'the lever N as long as the circuit remains closed through any two of said points. On closing the circuit at 10 3 or 123 short circuits are formed about theA solenoids M M by way of shunts xm and y y and the low-resistance coil of solenoid M3, and in closing circuitA at 10 and l2 a low shunt is formed. In operating the combinations in their order-in this instance four numbers, 3, 9, 10, and 12--the action is as follows. First close circuit at 3I and 9. This energizes solenoid M by Way of wires w" and w, and tilts the lever N about its pivot P, causing the projecting lug Z on its lefthand end to break the normally-closed shunt to-solenoid M by forcing the spring K away from its contactpoint. If, now, the circuit be closed at 10 in multiple arc with that just named, solenoid lll will beenergized and cause lever N N2` to tilt about its pivot P', bringing the lug Z on its right-hand end into contact with spring K2 and breaking the circuit ol' shunt y y to the last or locking solenoid, M2, and,r also niechanicallylockiug lever N as it passes into theopening h. The contact-arm may now be removed from contact 9,ifdesircd, and the battery-circuit closed in multiple arc at the last or unlocking combination, No. 12, whereby-the divisional part of the circuit passes through wire 10"]solenoid M2, wire w, and out to battery, and lifts the locking-lever N3, thus releasing the bolts.

I provide hookspp hip" ou the ends of the levers, as shown, to give additional security in the event ofa closure of all the circuits at once, and inasmuch as the solenoid M'l is or should be more sensitive than M', and M more sensitive than M, it will be understood that any accidental or intentional closing Vot' all the circuits,supposing the shunts broken, would draw up all the levers and lock them-lever N. NZ by hook p3 on N3, and lever N by hook h2 on N2, and 11 to N4.

I design making the safety-solenoid the mostA sensitive of all the solenoids, so that a wrong closure of any circuit will always actuate it; and mechanically lock. both N and N, the former by the hooksp p and the latter by thc IOO compression of the rubber' spring it, as well as the combined action of levers N N', and also N, at its left hand end.

Vith the arrangement of circuits shown in Fig. 3, the returncircuit w must be used to unlock the circuit, as it will be seen that an attempt to use any other circuits will always result in locking the levers N and N, no matter what sequence of circuits be used. It is necessary inorder to unlock the safe to employ four combination-numbers-in this instance 3, 9, I0, and 12and their sequence,in pairs,as disclosed. It will be understood, of course, that the arrangement for closing the circuits 0n the outside ot the safe is the same in this modification as those disclosed in connection with Fig. 2, where the two rods R It and R RZ are used, the contact-arms S4 acting on rod RFRZ to close contact 3, and the contact-arms S S' S`l acting on the contacts 9, l0, and 12 in the order in which the circuits should be closed, and as above described.

It will be seen that by the use of solenoids I get a greater range of motion for my locking-levers, and I prefer this to magnets with armatures, inasmuch as the adjustment may be such that thc greatest pull can be effected at the rst closure ot' the eircuit,so as to start the levers, and this,it will be secn,isa very desirable feature in locks where the levers are liable to become stuck.

The resistance-coils R to Rif", inclusive, are designed to prevent detection ofthe combinationeircuits by exterior tests by the use of a battery between any two of the points on the contact-board X X. If it were not for these resistances one could, by use of a battery and galvanometer or tele1iihone,loeate the circuits having the magnets M, M', M2, and M3 in them. I make the resistance vary in any desired ratio-say from three to thirty 0h ms each-and arrange them above the switchboard in any desired order, being carefulnot to have them in sequence. It will thus be seen that if the resistance ofthe magnets M M Wl M" is very small-say not to exceed an ohmit will be impossible by electrical tests to locate them. g

The coils It' to R15 may have cores and be in every way similar to the magnets, so that their magnetic action will be so analogous to that ofthe magnets as to defy detection. The cores may, if desired, be all attached directly to the switch-board by screwing them into it, and the switch-board may be of magnetic material; but this is not deemed material, the essential feature being to have the magnetic action ol' the coils as near like that ofthe magnets M M M2 as possible.

I prefer to have the wires w' to w15 pass directly into the door or over the top side thereof, so as to leave no wire exposed and to' have no exterior exposed part other than the contacts. To this end they may pass directly over the upper edge of the door in small stood that the greater number the greater the security; nor do I limit myseltl to any particular :manner of locating them. They may enter the safe at any point or points and be Within my invention.

It will of course be understood that more combinations may be secured by adding more magnets and circuits with additional locking armatures, and I only elect three because that is the usual number of combinations now had in existing mechanical locks.

To change the combination, all that is required is to remove the insulatiugr-washersa z zz, run down the screws until the heads cause the metal washers to contact with the switchboard,and place the insulating-washers under the desired screwlheads. In place of insulating-washers I prefer the metal washers connected to the wires w1, w, wi, and w to have insulation on their under side similar to the well-known jack-knife switch-plug in telephone systems; or a switch-board with a jackknife system might be substituted for the switch-board S B, it' desired; but I prefer the board indicated, as it is secure, for the metal washer cannot drop out and thus injure the lock.

It will be understood, of course, for reasons above noted,that one of the arms S S S2 might be dispensed with by making one of these arms serve to close the Iirst and third circuits. If necessary, armatures and armature'levers may be provided for the cores of the resistancecoils It to It, so that they may be entirely analogous in their action to magnets M, M', M, and M. In the event of such an arrangement it would be well to arrange the switchboard in a square around the box D, so as to concentrate the magnets and bring them as near to the center of the lock as possible, so that the sounds might issue from a common center. rIhe wires 104, w, and w1, extending from the magnets M M Mi", may be ot' liexible typesuch as are used in telephone-cords-and may be provided with takeup rollers and springs located in the box D, so that they can be lengthened and shortened to any desired length to reach any part of the switch-board S B. All the wires should ofcourse be fully protected by insulation and otherwise to prevent possible breakage or short circuits. I prefer to make the armature-levers and their bearings of aluminium, so as to be light, strong, and non-oxidizable. The lever N in particular should be of this material on account of the mass of metal needed to lock the lug G sccurely. I do not limit myself to aluminium, however, as any desired metal maybe used.

I may make the locking-lever I 3 of iron or steel and of sufficiently large dimensions to insure safety by providing a prolongation on the other end ot' said lever and an adjustable weight to eounterbalance the weight of the lever and solenoid-core.

When the door is of iron or steel, the returnwire w may be omitted and the common point or bindingpost V connected electrically di- IOO rectly to the door, the switch Sw on the outside being similarly connectcd,while b is insulated therefrom. The switch Sw may be dispensed with and a binding-post substituted therefor, if desired. v

I do not claim in this application bolt mechanism and a series of locking-levers therefor, one lever locking the bolts and each successive lever its predecessor in sequence; nor do I claim an alarm-bell in combination with such boltcontrolling mechanism. Said subject-matter I reserve for a separate application filed by me July 6, 1887, bearing Serial No. 243,598.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. Circuits running from the exterior of the safe to electro-magnets within, for controlling successively the combinations, and a safetycircuit to avoid detection ofthe combination, substantially as described.

2. The method of controlling safe and other combination-locks, consisting in controlling the combinations electrically by dividing an electrical current between selected circuits successively, so that the combinations shall be set iu proper sequence and in preventing such control unless the proper sequence is observed by closing a derived or independent circuit through a safety device, substantially as described.

3. In a combination-lock, a series of circuits running from the exterior of the safe, vault, or place to be protected to the interior thereof to a source of common electrical connection,which latter is electrically connected to a single conductor passing through a safety device, as described, to the exterior of the safe, in combination with two or more electric circuits selected at will from the aforesaid series of conductors, both electrically disconnected from the source of com mon electrical connection and passing, respectively, through electrical devices, as described,which control by their suc-k cessive action the locking mechanism, substantially as described.

4. In a combinationlock, a series of electrical circuits passing from the exterior of the safe, vault, or place to be protected and electrically connected to a common point Within t-he safe, an additional series of selected circuits chosenat will from the aforesaid circuits,

` but electrically disconnected from the common point within the safe, a series of electro-magnets and locking-levers therefor, each one of said magnets being in one of the latter circuit-s, and a common return-circuitforall the aforesaid circuits, said return-wire being connected to the rst-named series or their point of connection through a safety electromagnet, substantially as described.

5. In a combination-lock for safes, vaults, or analogous devices, a series of conductors insulated from each other and passing from the exterior of the safe or. vault to the interior thereof to combination mechanism located therein, in combination with a series of cir- CIK cuit-controlling devices located on the outside 0f the safe or vault and an electrical generator connected thereto, substantially as described.

6. In a combination-lock for safes, vaults, or analogous devices, a series of insulated electrical circuits passing to the interior of the safe or vault to a safety device controlled by a common return-circuit passing to the exterior of the safe Orvault, in combination with two or more selected insulated electrical circuits, also 8. In a combination-lock for safes, vaults,

or analogous devices, the combination of two or more combination electro magnets adapted to control the withdrawal of the bolts, with a safety electro-magnet adapted to prevent the action of the aforesaid electro-magnets unless the proper sequence of circuits is operated, substantially as described.

9. In a combination-lock for safes, vaults, or analogous devices, a series of solenoids or electro-magnets located within said safe or vault, a series of electrical circuits leading to the solenoids or electro-magnets in sequence, a shunt or shunts about all of said. solenoids or electro-magnets, save the first one of the series, and a safety magnet or solenoid for controlling the action of the aforesaid solenoids or electro-magnets in the event ofa wrong closure-of the circuits leading tothe other solenoids or electro-magnets, said safety magnet or solenoid being under the control of the entire series of circuits leading into the safe, and means, substantially as described, for breaking said shunt or shunts if the proper sequence of circuits be closed.

l0. In a safe or analogous device, the combination of a series of electrical circuits leading from the exterior to the interior thereof, with electro-magnetic means for controlling the withdrawal of the bolts, and additional electro-magnetic means for preventing such Withdrawal unless the proper sequence of circuits be closed, substantially as described.

11. The within-described method of controlling combination-locks for safes, vaults, or

analogous devices electrically by operating a predetermined sequence of circuits selected from a series of circuits .passing into the safe or vault. and in preventing the action of the bolt-controlling apparatus unless this proper sequence is observed, substantially as described.

- CHARLES J. KINTNER. Witnesees:

JOHN A. WIEDERsHEIM, L. DoUvILLE.

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